“Hong Kong People on the Mainland: A Force for Integration?”

Socio-cultural Adaptations

28 April 2010CCTR Workshop

Linda Tjia

Visiting Scholar

Center on China’s Transnational Relations, HKUST

Socio-cultural Adaptation Process

HK MLFamily, social network, work strategy

3 adaptations

Marital relations

About 10% of the HKers think that their marital relations are getting worse

Desperate wives

“I was depressed after moving to live in Beijing. I had language problem and couldn’t find a job here. My husband became the major bread earner in the family. His work was very demanding, he had to travel all over China very often, and he had no time even to give me a phone call during prolonged working hours. We nearly broke up. Luckily we have a sisters group here through which we encourage each other to maintain the marital relations. So I tried to see my husband off and receive him at the airport so as to get more time to see each other. I tried very hard not to piss him off when I sensed he had a tough time at work. I make a lot of efforts behind the scene.” (Beijing interview # 8)

Types of current residential place

28% of the HKers in ML own their residential place: they set foot in the new environment, settle down, and own real property. % in BJ is exceptionally high.

Will buy property in ML in 1 year

19% expect to own real property for residential purpose in one year

Making friends with local people

About 1/4 of the HKers on the ML find it slightly or much more difficult to make friends with MLers, but half of them thinks it is just the same.

Positive views towards ML friends

I have some very good mainlander friends. It is easier to establish pure and deep friendship with MLers than with HKers or foreigners. (BJ No. 19)

It is easier to make friends with BJ people than HKers, as BJ people are much more sincere and simple-minded. But there is no big difference in making friends with HKers and SH people. (BJ No. 20)

If you make good friends with BJ people, their hospitality is far better than that what you can experience with HK & foreign friends. (BJ No. 33)

Negative view towards ML friends

I had been told that Chinese are polite, hard working, relationship oriented, and had good values. After I came here, I found people here are not so friendly, they are impolite, and some times really rude (Shanghai employee – Ms. C).

Deep understanding of local friends

>60% of the HKers on the ML know their ML friends well

Having a good dinning experience

About 56% have no problems enjoying a good dinner outside

Influence on government policies

About 39% think that they are having at least the same level of influence on government policies as they were in HK. BJ group are exceptionally confident with nearly 50% of them think that they are more influential on ML and 44% think it is just the same as in HK.

Getting around the bureaucracy

We have to do them (local government) many favors, such as maintaining the employment rate and paying various arbitrary fees. But in return they also offer us preferential policy when necessary

We work with the MOFCOM, the State Administration of Taxation, and the Ministry of Finance, and in order to facilitate negotiation, we hire their own people, usually one who have worked in the government for 5-10 years, train them up for three years, and let them to do the liaison work

Summary on Key Findings

90% experience the same or better marital relations

28% own their residential place, and 19% expect so in 1 year

60% have no problem making friends with and understanding MLers

56% enjoy dinning easily on ML

39% have at least the same level of influence on government policies as they were in HK

3 Adaptations 4 Explanations